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Rock Legends Play Poker in Vegas

Poker Tournament to Feature Sully Erna, Vinnie Paul, Ace Frehley, Dusty Hill, Scott Ian

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OK. What do you get when you bring Sully Erna, Vinnie Paul, Ace Frehley, Dusty Hill, and Scott Ian to Las Vegas? Probably the most rockin'Sully Erna of Godsmack party in town. What if they just came to play poker? It would still likely be the most rockin' poker game ever organized. Well, hold on to your cut cards everyone, because VH1 and Ultimate Bet are coming to Las Vegas, and they're bringing their friends to make some noise in the Second City Theatre at the Flamingo Las Vegas on Nov. 2.

The VH1 Classic Rock'n'Roll Poker Tournament will be one for the history books, when poker professionals Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, and Antonio Esfandiari, along with colorful commentator Mark Tenner and tournament director Matt Savage, join music legends for a night of poker benefiting a charity of the winner's choice.

Antonio EsfandiariSully Erna of Godsmack, Vinnie Paul from Pantera and Big Vin Records, Ace Frehley of KISS, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, and Scott Ian of Anthrax will grind it out for their favorite charities in the first VH1 Classic Rock n' Roll Celebrity Poker Player Tournament airing in early 2007 on VH1 Classic.

Rock 'n' roll comedian and XM Satellite Comedy Channel 150's "The Chairman" has an easy job. He's slotted to come in and warm up the audience. Meanwhile, Phil "the Unabomber" Laak will provide celebrity and qualifying players with "tips and tells." Yes, qualifiers!

UltimateBet.tv gave two players a chance to qualifying on Oct. 23, and the Flamingo Las Vegas threw in a player of their own to join the rock 'n' roll celebs at the felt.

The first-place main event champion will receive a $25,000 check donated to a charity of his or her choice, a seat in the main event of UltimateBet.tv's Aruba Poker Tournament worth $10,000.00, and a day of on-camera programming from VH1 Classic as "VJ for a Day." In the event of a noncelebrity winner, that person will play sidekick to thePhil Laak highest-ranking celebrity of the tournament.

Phil HellmuthBut wait, there's more… All players who are eliminated from the main event will have a second chance to win with a "Heads Up" tournament in the adjoining Green Room cohosted by Antonio Esfandiari. The "Heads Up" tourney champ will win a June 2007 cruise for two to Alaska.

"I am proud to be working with the Flamingo and Ultimate Bet.tv to raise awareness and contributions for selected charities," said producer Lisa Tenner. "We have also twisted up this tournament by adding something no one else in poker has done, with as much going on in the green room as we do the main tournament area."

"As we continue the process of reinventing the Flamingo, the VH1 Classic Rock n' Roll Celebrity Poker Tournament is a prime example of the direction the resort will be taking in the future," said Don Marrandino, president of Flamingo Las Vegas. "This will be a great event with a talented group of artists and we are thrilled to host them at the Flamingo."